Protective Glove for Athletes

ABSTRACT

A protective glove for athletes includes a glove body and a protective layer structure. The glove body includes a palm portion and a plurality of finger portions. Each of the finger portions has an elasticity constrained portion provided at a front end thereof The glove body has an inner side defined as a palm side and an outer side opposite to the inner side defined as a back side. The protective layer structure has one side surface disposed on the inner side of the glove body and the other side surface provided with an anti-slip buffer layer. The protective layer structure is adhesively disposed on the palm portion and the plurality of finger portions, and the protective layer structure is sewed and fixed along an edge portion of the protective layer structure with a sewing thread, such that the palm side is defined as a buffer protective surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/894,490, filed on Feb. 12, 2018, which claims the priority to TW patent application No. 106218417, filed on Dec. 12, 2017, both of which are incorporated herewith by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a hand glove protective structure, and more particular to a protective glove for athletes.

2. The Prior Arts

Traditional gloves have different functions from one another depending on their respective requirements. For instance, the glove for athletes generally is relatively thick in order to absorb the impact of a ball so as to reduce or prevent the hand from hurt during catching the ball.

Conventional protective gloves for athletes generally include a palm portion and a finger portion formed at a distal end of the palm portion while the other end opposite to the distal end of the palm portion defines an opening to permit access of the athlete's hand into the protective glove.

In general, the above protective gloves for athletes are stitched together from several pieces of non-slip protective cloth by stitching process. To be more specific, the stitching process includes many complicated steps, hence resulting in higher manufacturing cost. Also, the stitching process often requires high skilled worker to operate the stitching equipments. Due to lack of skillfulness or long time operation, the quality of the protective gloves cannot be kept at a required level, even the manufacturing time is prolonged and thus the production yield is lowered.

The applicant of the present application has noticed the above-stated disadvantages and feels that the conventional protective gloves for athletes need be further improved to get rid of the above-stated disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a protective glove for athletes, which is simple in structure, convenient in operation, and low in manufacturing cost. A protective layer structure of the protective glove can entirely enclose the palm portions and the finger portions and/or the wrist of a hand and thus can protect the fingers, but will not affect the moving flexibility and the touching sensitivity of the fingers.

For achieving the foregoing objective, a protective glove for athletes according to the present invention includes: a glove body including a palm portion and a plurality of finger portions, each of the finger portions having an elasticity constrained portion provided at a front end thereof, and the glove body having an inner side defined as a palm side and an outer side opposite to the inner side defined as a back side; and a protective layer structure having one side surface disposed on the inner side of the glove body and the other side surface provided with an anti-slip buffer layer; wherein the protective layer structure is adhesively disposed on the palm portion and the plurality of finger portions, and the protective layer structure is sewed and fixed along an edge portion of the protective layer structure with a sewing thread, such that the palm side of the glove body is defined as a buffer protective surface of the glove body in such a manner to define the palm side as a buffer protective surface.

Preferably, external sides of the elasticity constrained portions of the glove body are encapsulated by an adhesive layer, such that elasticity of the elasticity constrained portions is smaller than elasticity of the other portions of the finger portions.

Preferably, the protective layer structure includes at least one anti-slip buffer layer, at least one cloth layer and at least one bonding layer, an outer side surface of the cloth layer is provided with the anti-slip buffer layer, and the bonding layer is partially distributed between the inner side of the glove body and the cloth layer.

Preferably, a material of the anti-slip buffer layer is selected from the group consisting of rubber, silica gel, plastic, foam latex, and a combination thereof the anti-slip buffer layer is fabricated from foam latex material.

Preferably, the protective layer structure has a portion partially enclosing the plurality of finger portions corresponding to distal ends of the finger portions.

Preferably, a protective glove for athletes further comprises another protective layer structure disposed on the outer side of the glove body.

Preferably, a hermetically sealed portion is formed between the protective layer structures, so as to entirely enclose the plurality of finger portions.

Preferably, the protective layer structure includes an anti-slippery material coated on the anti-slip buffer layer corresponding to distal ends of the finger portions such that the anti-slip buffer layer is formed with anti-slip portions.

Preferably, the adhesive layer forms an anti-slippery surface on an internal side of the glove body.

Preferably, an extension sheet is disposed on an outer periphery of the protective layer structure, wherein the extension sheet has a density larger than that of an interior portion of the protective layer structure.

Preferably, the elasticity constrained portions of the finger portions are encapsulated by a cloth material, such that elasticity of the elasticity constrained portions is smaller than elasticity of the other portions of the finger portions.

In the protective glove for athletes of the present invention, the protective layer structure is disposed on the palm portion and the finger portions of the glove body in such a manner to define the palm side as a buffer protective surface, the protective layer structure further includes the anti-slip buffer layer, the cloth layer, and the bonding layer assembled together, and each of the finger portions has an elasticity constrained portion provided at the front end thereof, thereby being capable of absorbing the impact of a ball and thus stably and firmly catching the ball. The protective glove for athletes of the present invention is simple in structure, convenient in operation, and relatively low in manufacturing cost. The protective layer structure of the protective glove can entirely enclose the palm portions and the finger portions and/or the wrist of a hand and thus can protect the fingers, but will not affect the moving flexibility and the touching sensitivity of the fingers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective glove for athletes according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the protective glove for athletes according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3B are schematic diagrams exemplarily illustrating the bonding layer distributed on the cloth layer of the protective layer structure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the elasticity constrained portion of a finger portion;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the elasticity constrained portion of a finger portion;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a protective glove for athletes according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a protective glove for athletes according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a palm side of a protective glove for athletes according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a back side of a protective glove for athletes according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a palm side of the protective glove for athletes according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Refer to FIGS. 1-2, wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective glove for athletes according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the protective glove for athletes according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a protective glove 100 for athletes according to the present invention includes a glove body 10 having a palm portion 11 and a plurality of finger portions 12, and each of the finger portions 12 has an elasticity constrained portion 120 provided at a front end thereof (i.e., at a front end of the each of the finger portions 12). The glove body 10 has an inner side defined as a palm side and an outer side opposite to the inner side defined as a back side. In this embodiment, the glove body 10 is formed of a material interwoven from a plurality of yarn threads 13.

A protective layer structure 20 has one side surface disposed on the inner side of the glove body 10 and the other side surface provided with an anti-slip buffer layer 21. In this embodiment, the protective layer structure 20 preferably includes at least one anti-slip buffer layer 21, at least one cloth layer 22 and at least one bonding layer 23, wherein one side surface of the bonding layer 23 is adhesively disposed on the inner side of the glove body 10 while the other side surface of the bonding layer 23 is adhesively disposed on the cloth layer 22 and an outer side surface of the cloth layer 22 is provided with the anti-slip buffer layer 21. The anti-slip buffer layer 21 is fabricated from an anti-slippery material with high elasticity and high friction coefficient. Preferably, the anti-slippery material can be selected from a group consisting of rubber, silicon, plastic, foam latex, and a combination thereof. In this embodiment, foam latex is used for fabrication of the anti-slip buffer layer 21, and thus a bottom cloth (i.e., the cloth layer 22) for supporting the foam latex is included in the structure. If silicon or the like is used for fabrication of the anti-slip buffer layer 21, the cloth layer 22 in the embodiment as described above will not be included in the structure. Preferably, the protective layer structure 20 may have a portion partially enclosing the plurality of finger portions 12 corresponding to distal ends of the finger portions. The protective layer structure 20 may be formed integrally as a single portion (as shown in FIG. 10). Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the protective layer structure 20 may be divided, and thereby may include two or more portions. The configuration of and the number of portions included in the protective layer structure 20 can depend on the glove design and the actual requirement. In principle, the protective layer structure 20 being distributed on the palm side in a separated form can increase the flexibility of the glove and the range of motion when a user of the glove makes a motion, and design requirements may be changed depending on the sport types. Even not completely divided, the protective layer structure 20 may have some specific portions with reduced widths. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the protective layer structure 20 has shrinkage portions at parts of the finger portions 12 near the palm portion 11. Such configuration provides the function of increasing the range of movement, too.

To further understand the spirit of the present invention, some embodiments are given in the following paragraphs.

The protective layer structure 20 has one side surface disposed on the palm portion 11 and the plurality of finger portions 12 of the glove body 10 in such a manner to form a buffer protective surface in the palm side of the glove body 10. Preferably, the protective layer structure 20 includes the anti-slip buffer layer 21, the cloth layer 22 and the bonding layer 23 such that when a user is catching a ball, the protective glove 100 can absorb the impact of the ball and thus can stably catch the ball.

To be more specific, the protective glove of the present invention can solve the prior disadvantages, and the protective glove of the present invention is simple in structure, convenient in operation, and low in manufacturing cost. Since the protective layer structure can entirely enclose the plurality of fingers, the palm and the wrist of a user's hand, the moving flexibility of the fingers and the touching sensitivity will not be adversely affected while the advantageous effect of protecting the fingers can be achieved.

FIGS. 3A-3B are schematic diagrams exemplarily illustrating the bonding layer distributed on the cloth layer of the protective layer structure, respectively. Typically, the bonding layer 23 may be formed of or from a hot-melt adhesive or any other kind of adhesive glue. In general, if the glue is applied to the whole surface of the palm side, the palm side of the glove body 10 will become too hard and loss the elasticity and softness, and thereby the flexibility of the sport glove is affected. Therefore, the means as shown in FIG. 3A may be used, in which the bonding layer 23 is coated only along an edge portion of the cloth layer 22 of the protective layer structure 20, and a sewing thread is additionally used for sewing and fixing the protective layer structure 20, such that both the functions of fixing and keeping the elasticity of the glove can be achieved.

Similarly, in order to prevent the problem that a center part of the palm side bulges due to the lacking of an adhesive glue in the center part, the means as shown in FIG. 3B may be used, in which the bonding layer 23 is coated along an edge portion of the cloth layer 22 of the protective layer structure 20, the bonding layer 23 further partially covers the center part through the coating in a slash pattern so as to prevent the bulge in the center part, and a sewing thread is additionally used for sewing and fixing the protective layer structure 20, such that a better effect can be obtained. However, the actual coating amount and distributing area can be changed depending on the actual manufacturing requirement, and are not limited by the ways shown in the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the elasticity constrained portion of a finger portion. As shown in FIG. 4, an external side of an elasticity constrained portion 120 is encapsulated by an adhesive layer 14, such that elasticity of the elasticity constrained portion 120 is smaller than elasticity of the other portion of the finger portion 12. Such configuration is provided for the reason that the front ends of the finger portions of a sport glove, such as a goalkeeper glove, typically have to withstand larger impact and force, including various kinds of possible rotational force when catch a ball, and therefore it is necessary to reinforce the front ends of the finger portions. For example, in the case of FIG. 4, various processes, such as coating, immersion, or the like, may be used to apply the adhesive layer 14 to the position of the constrained portion 120, so as to make the elasticity of the constrained portion 120 constrained, and thereby the reinforcing function can be achieved in such a manner that the constrained portion 120 will not be too soft while can have a certain range of motion. A material of the adhesive layer 14 may be any suitable glue material, and is not particularly limited herein.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the elasticity constrained portion of a finger portion. As shown in FIG. 5, it may also possible to encapsulate the constrained portion 120 with a cloth material 13, which is adhered to the constrained portion 120 by an adhesive layer 14, such that elasticity of the elasticity constrained portion 120 is smaller than elasticity of the other portion of the finger portion 12. Similarly, a material of the cloth material 13 may be any suitable cloth, and is not particularly limited herein. In this embodiment, the protective layer structure 20 does not overlap the cloth material 13, because the overlap between the protective layer structure 20 and the cloth material 13 may make the overlapping part too hard and thereby affect the feeling during use. However, the overlapping part may or may not exist depending on the material characteristics and design, and is not limited by the embodiment shown in the drawing.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a protective glove for athletes according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the first embodiment, except that the second embodiment further includes another protective layer structure 20 disposed on the outer side of the glove body 10. To be more specific, the palm side and the back side of the glove body 10 are respectively provided with the protective layer structures 20. When compared with the first embodiment, the second embodiment has better protection.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the finger portions 12 of a protective glove for athletes according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Compared with the second embodiment, the difference therebetween resides in that the two protective layer structures 20 form a hermetically sealed portion 24 therebetween entirely enclosing the plurality of finger portions 12. The hermetically sealed portion 24 can prevent the two protective layer structures 20 from disengagement from the finger portions 12 even after the glove body 10 has been used for a long period of time.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a protective glove for athletes according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, which has the structure similar to the first embodiment, except that the protective layer structure 20 of the fourth embodiment includes an anti-slippery material coated on the anti-slip buffer layer 21 corresponding to distal ends of the finger portions 12 such that the anti-slip buffer layer 21 is formed with anti-slip portions 121. In other words, the anti-slip portions 121 can effectively reduce the rotation of a ball during catching the ball, so that the ball can be stably and firmly caught in addition to the advantageous effect of the first embodiment.

Refer to FIGS. 9 and 10, wherein FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a back side of a protective glove for athletes according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a palm side of the protective glove for athletes according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Compared with the first embodiment, the difference therebetween resides in that the protective layer structure 20 have some portions not enclosing the plurality of finger portions 12. An outer periphery of the protective layer structure 20 is formed with an extension sheet 25, and the protective layer structure 20 is formed with a plurality of through holes 26 at a back side thereof (see FIG. 9) by forming, pre-heating and cutting methods. The plurality of through holes 26 expose the finger portions 12 of the glove body 10 in such a manner that the glove body 10 forms a plurality of flexible regions 15 to provide the flexibility of the glove body 10. It is noted that the extension sheet 25 have a density larger than that of an interior portion of the protective layer structure 20. To be more specific, since the extension sheet 25 has a larger density and thus larger strength than the interior portion of the protective layer structure 20, the extension sheet 25 can withstand impact or friction from a ball and thus the service life of the protective glove of the present invention can be prolonged.

Moreover, the plurality of flexible regions 15 of the glove body 10 are located at positions corresponding to the finger joints of a user to provide comfortability in use or during the operation of catching a ball.

In addition, the fifth embodiment of the present invention can also provide the similar functions and/or effects to the first embodiment.

It should be noted that the protective layer structure 20 of the present invention is directly disposed on the glove body 10 without using an adhesive layer.

The features of the protective glove of the present invention and the advantageous effects thereof are summarized as follows:

In the protective glove 100 of the present invention, the protective layer structure 20 is disposed on the palm portion 11 and the finger portions 12 of the glove body 10 in such a manner to define the palm side as a buffer protective surface, and the protective layer structure 20 further includes the anti-slip buffer layer 21, the cloth layer 22, and the bonding layer 13 assembled together, thereby being capable of absorbing the impact of a ball and thus stably and firmly catching the ball.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the protective glove for athletes of the present invention is simple in structure, convenient in operation, and relatively low in manufacturing cost. Since the protective glove of the present invention can entirely enclose the palm, the fingers and/or the wrist of a hand, in addition to protecting the fingers, the moving flexibility and the touching sensitivity of the fingers will not be adversely affected.

According to another aspect of the present invention, since the protective layer structure provides a better enclosing effect, while a user is catching a ball, the protective layer structure can absorb the impact of the ball, thereby preventing the fingers from hurt.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective glove for athletes, comprising: a glove body including a palm portion and a plurality of finger portions, each of the finger portions having an elasticity constrained portion provided at a front end thereof, and the glove body having an inner side defined as a palm side and an outer side opposite to the inner side defined as a back side; and a protective layer structure having one side surface disposed on the inner side of the glove body and the other side surface provided with an anti-slip buffer layer; wherein the protective layer structure is adhesively disposed on the palm portion and the plurality of finger portions, and the protective layer structure is sewed and fixed along an edge portion of the protective layer structure with a sewing thread, such that the palm side of the glove body is defined as a buffer protective surface.
 2. The protective glove according to claim 1, wherein external sides of the elasticity constrained portions of the glove body are encapsulated by an adhesive layer, such that elasticity of the elasticity constrained portions is smaller than elasticity of the other portions of the finger portions.
 3. The protective glove according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer structure includes at least one anti-slip buffer layer, at least one cloth layer and at least one bonding layer, an outer side surface of the cloth layer is provided with the anti-slip buffer layer, and the bonding layer is partially distributed between the inner side of the glove body and the cloth layer.
 4. The protective glove according to claim 3, wherein a material of the anti-slip buffer layer is selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicon, plastic, foam latex, and a combination thereof
 5. The protective glove according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer structure has a portion partially enclosing the plurality of finger portions corresponding to distal ends of the finger portions.
 6. The protective glove according to claim 3, further comprising another protective layer structure disposed on the outer side of the glove body.
 7. The protective glove according to claim 6, wherein a hermetically sealed portion is formed between the protective layer structures, so as to entirely enclose the plurality of finger portions.
 8. The protective glove according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer structure includes an anti-slippery material coated on the anti-slip buffer layer corresponding to distal ends of the finger portions such that the anti-slip buffer layer is formed with anti-slip portions.
 9. The protective glove according to claim 1, further comprising an extension sheet disposed on an outer periphery of the protective layer structure, wherein the extension sheet has a density larger than that of an interior portion of the protective layer structure.
 10. The protective glove according to claim 1, wherein the elasticity constrained portions of the finger portions are encapsulated by a cloth material, such that elasticity of the elasticity constrained portions is smaller than elasticity of the other portions of the finger portions. 